Fuel control mechanism



Nov. 29, 1949 J. BECVAR FUEL CONTROL MECHANISM s Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledNOV. 18, 1943 I INVENTOR JOSEPH B ECI/AR Q ATTORNEY J. BECVAR FUELCONTROL MECHANISM Filed Nov. 18, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JOSEPH556 VAR ATTORNEY Nov. 29, 194-9 J, BEQVAR 2,489,611

FUEL CONTROL MECHANISM 1 Filed Nov. 18, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.JOSEPH Bscvm? I", I g

l AT70/EA/EY Patented Nov. 29, 1949 FUEL CONTROL MECHANISM JosephBecvar, Wicklifle, Ohio, assignor to Grand Industries, Inc., Cleve ofOhio land, Ohio, a corporation Application November 18, 1943, Serial No.510,732

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a safety control for burners of cooking rangesand analogous combustion equipment using service burners. The inventionis in the nature of a protective device and system enabling, forinstance, a householder or other person who ordinarily uses a certaincooking range to leave the same unguarded but with a feeling ofassurance that either there will be no tampering with the burner controlinstruments or that, if any tampering occurs, such will not be apt tocreate a dangerous condition upon subsequent authorized re-use of therange.

The invention utilizes and recombines to advantage two previously knowndevices for use in attempting to safeguard gas burning equipment againstdangers resulting from the tendency on part of children to experimentwith unguarded apparatus of that type. One device is a removable key fora gas stop cock by which, for example, all the burners of the stove canbe blocked from communication with a main gas supply pipe or duct. Theother known device is one frequently used on oven and broiler burners ofcooking ranges and comprises valve operating handles or knobs which, inorder to enable the same to be turned to fon or gas supplying position,must be moved axially of the valve control stem. Said latter device ismore of a psychological deterrent against meddling than apositive safetydevice. Such oven and broiler gas control cocks are already known inwhich a rotary, plug-positioning part of the operating stem of the plughas a lug or pin projecting laterally from it and normally seated in arecess on a non-rotary part of the cock as by a spring bearing axiallyon said stem part, whereby when the stem is moved against the bias ofthe spring the lug or pin clears the recess to enable the stem to turnthe plug. Examples of such gas cook constructions are shown by UnitedStates Patents 1,917,981, 1,917,982, and 1,917,983 to J. Kindl.

The present system and apparatus employs the removable key forcontrolling a master gas cook,

sibly be turned to on or gas-supplying positions.

Furthermore, before the removable key has been turned to safety or maingas inlet supply blocking position, if the operator or user of the stovehas not thought to turn off the oven or the broiler, then the removablekey cannot be turned to safety position except when the oven and broilerburner control valves either are being or have been turned off.

The above discussion indicates the principal objects of the presentinvention. More specific objects will become apparent from the followingspecification relating to the accompanying drawing showing more or lessschematically a conventional burner and control valve arrangement for acooking range and, in detail, embodiments of the present invention.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a plan view showing an illustrative forwardportion of a cooking range of conventional type incorporating the gascontrol mechanism or apparatus hereof in one form;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation showing the improved safety mechanism hereofin safety or gas-shutoff position;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 showing the main gas shut off.mechanism in condition to enable operation of any or all of the burnersof the range or stove;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view taken along the axis of the main shutoff valve as indicated at 4--4 on Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a similar detail sectional view of an oven control valve takenalong the line 5-5 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the valve and operating mechanismillustrated in Fig. 5, part thereof being shown in section for clearnessand illustration; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 1-4 ofFig. 6.

In Fig. 1 the front part of a conventional cooking range is shown at land a fixed forward panel or apron 2 may be considered as comprisingpart of the burner control assembly of the stove, being in at leastpartially concealing relation to the valve mechanism as usual in moderncooking range construction. The main supply pipefor gas to serve thevarious burners is shown at 5 and the master control cook or valve 6 ofany suitable construction is arranged in blocking relation to a manifoldsupply pipe 1 so that when the valve 6 is operated in one position, asshown in both Figs 1 and 2, no gas can flow from the main 5 to themanifold 1. When the valve 6 is open then the opening of the top serviceburner controls 8, 9, l0 and Il will serve to supply the respectivelyassociated burners (not shown), and the oven and broiler control valvesl2 and I3, respectively, can be turned to open position to enable normaloperation of the oven and broiler.

Assuming that the valve 6 is constructed like an ordinary stop cook, thestem of which is shown at iii, a removable key such as shown at It, Fig.l, is arranged to be inserted as into an axial slot, i. e. non-circularopening, I! on the stem in order to establish an operating connectionbetween said stem and a valve handle or knob l8 swivelled onto the stemQ5. The swivel connection, as shown, is a peripheral groove I9 on thestem into which a pair of pins 20 yieldingly supported on the knobextend. The knob I8 is operatingly connected to the stem when a shankportion of the key I6 is inserted through a complementary central axialslot 2|, i. e. non-circular opening, of the knob l8 into the end slot llof the stem l5. Thereupon the valve 6 can be turned on and off simply bymanipulating the knob in the usual manner of operating gas cocks. Thekey may have a reduced end portion 16a entering a circular pilot bore inthe outer end of the valve stem t5.

For limiting the free turning movement of the knob l8 while the key isremoved (for example within a 90 angle) the apron or panel 2 has anopening 23 for receiving the shank of the knob which opening is radiallyenlarged at one side as at 24-. An abutment projection 25 on the shankof the knob l8 engages circumferentially spaced abutment shoulders 26and 21 of the opening portion 24, thus limiting the swivelling movementof theknob on the valve stem as stated above and ensuring that, when thekey is in operating position, the position of the knob will alwaysindicate the condition (e. g. closed or open) of the master stop cock.

The top burner valves are preferably unaffected by the present controlsystem except in that they cannot be supplied with gas when the masterstop cock is in safety or ofi position. The oven and broiler burnercontrol valves are, however, mechanically interlocked with the controlknob and key assembly I 6l8 described above, l

preferably by the following arrangement:

As best illustrated in Figs; 6 and 7 the oven control valve l2 has anoperating stem 30 on which is fixedly secured an operating knob 3| sothat the stem 30 and knob 3i rotate together and the; knob is in fixedposition axially on the stem 36. In the form illustrated this connectionis made by means of the screw 30a.

As will be more fully described hereinafter, when the valve I2 is in theoff position, the'stem 30 normally occupies a position axially of thevalve 12 such that the screw 30a lies within a notch in the apron 2 andprevents rotation of the stem 30. The stem 30, however, is movableaxially of and toward the body of the valve l2, against the source of aspring, a sufficient distance to move the screw 30a inwardly of theapron 2 out of the apron slot therein, in which latter positionthe stem30 is not restrained from rotation by the apron.

As shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 2, the stem l of the master controlcock has fixedly secured thereon an arm 35 preferably behind the apron2, and the arm pivotally supports as on a pin 36 a generallyhorizontally extending link 31 in the form of a bar of rectangularsection, having portions passing above the operating stems 30 and 32 ofthe oven and broiler control valves l2 and considered as rigid ornon-flexible vertically.

The link 3? adjacent the oven valve I2 is guided between a flange 38fixed to the shank 33 of the knob 3i and a shoulder 39 on a bracketmember 59 rigid. with the non-rotating body of the valve l2 and securedthereto as by a bolt and nut assembly 4|. Near the working axis of thevalve 22 the bar stock of the link 31 is oflset rearwardly as at 42 sothat, in the relative position of the parts shown in Fig. l, the portion43 of the link 3? which extends to the right from the valve 12 lies insuch relation to the shoulder 39 as to prevent movement of the knob stemand flange assembly 30, 3i, 33 axially toward the valve 12. This is dueto the fact that the space between the flange 38 and shoulder 39,measured forwardly and rearwardly of the range, is made only slightlygreater than the distance between the forward face of the link 31 andthe rearward face of the offset portion 53 and, when the valve 6 is inoff position, the offset 42 is substantially at the axis of the stem 30so that concurrently the forward face of the link 37 bears against orlies close to the rear face of the flange 38 and the rear face of theportion 43 bears against or lies close to the forward faceof theshoulder 39.

When the link is shifted to the right into the position shown in Fig. 3,the offset portion 42 and the link portion 43 are moved tothe right ofthe shoulder 39 so that only the link 31 remains between the shoulder 39and the flange 38. In this position the stem 30 may be moved axiallyinwardly toward the body of the valve 12 as the space between theshoulder 39 and flange 38 is ample to accommodate the single thicknessof the link 3? when the stem 30 has been moved inwardly a sufficientdistance to position the screw 38 inwardly from the plane of the apron 2and thus clear of the slot' in the latter. This inward axial movement ofthe stem 30 could not be very great and accordingly the natural flexureof the link 31 flatwise permits rearward or inward movement of theportion of the link 31 engaged by the flange 38.

In the off position of the valve 6 as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 thelink portion 43 closely underlies the lower end of an overhangingabutment shoulder 44 on the bracket 40, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 5,so that the link portion cannot be raised from the position thereillustrated. The stem 30 has a hubportion which is rigid therewith andpreferably is in the-form of a collar or cylindrical sleeve with whichthe flange 38 may be integral. The top side of the sleeve, in theposition illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2-, is in the form of aflat surface5| which closely underlies the adjacent lower edges of the'link' 31 theoffset 42, and the portion43. The relation of the portion 43 to the end45 and surface 51 prevents rotation of the stem out of on positionwhenever the master stop cock is in the off position.

The pointed end 45, of the abutment 44 Barranged lockingly andselectively to coact with a series of upwardly facing notches 43 on thelink 3'5 when the handle of" the master stopcock 6 is turned to variouson or gas supply positions, one of which is shown by Fig. 3. It shouldbe noted that the notches 46 are of sufiicient depth so that the link3'! may be raised clear of the surface 5E- a suflicient distance toenable a lower edge of the link,3'l to ride on the cylindrical surfaceof the collar or sleeve 50 when any one of the notches A3 is alignedwith and can receive the abutment, M. In the various on positions ofthemastercontrol knob l8the'link3'l'is moved a rsaou to the right, and,if the oven burner valve is then opened, the link 31 is cammed upwardlyby the rising end of the flat surface so that one of the notches 46 willbe caused to move into embracing and link-locking relation to thepointed end 45 of the abutment 44. Thereby the oven burner must beturned ofi before the master stop cock can be turned off. Also, if boththe oven control valve and master stop cock are off, the oven controlvalve is locked from rotation by the engagement of the portion 43 of thelink with the fiat surface 51 and end 45 as well as by the screw 30a.

Referring further to Figs. 1 and 2, the link 31 beyond the extension 43to the right thereof carries a pivoted link member 53 which, forconvenience and to enable raising of its unattached end may be connectedto the extension 43 by a pivot pin or rivet 54. A rearwardly offsetportion 55 of the pivoted link member 53 has a longitudinal slot 55, theterminal portion of which, toward the right in the position shown byFig. 2, is occupied by a pin 51 carried on an arm 58 rigid with theoperating stem 32 of the broiler burner control valve 13 to which theknob 33 is fixedly secured. To the right of the pin 51 the end of thepivoted link member 55 has an offset portion 59 which, in the relativeposition of parts shown by Figs. 1 and 2, lies in rearward abutment witha portion of the valve I3, for example a surface 60 at the end of theplug proper of said valve l3. In the position of parts shown by Fig. 3(master control valve turned on) said rearwardly offset portion 59, byvirtue of movement of the link assembly to the right, clears the surface60 for enabling the knob 33 to be moved axially with its stem 32 as acondition precedent to turning the plug of the valve 13 to on or broilerburner gas supplying position. When the stem 32 is slid rearwardly thearm 58 bodily moves the link member 55 rearwardly. In turning off thebroiler burner by counterclockwise rotation of the knob 33, stillassuming the master cock is open and the link 31 shifted to the right,the pin 51 of the arm 58 moves idly along the slot 56.

To summarize the operation it will be seen that when the master stopcock 5 is open all the service burner valves can be opened freely and socan the oven and broiler control valves. Before the master control valvecan be turned to closed position, preparatory to removing the key 16, itis necessary to close the oven control valve l2 unless the latter hasalready been closed. Under the conditions just mentioned, the ovencontrol handle 3| must be turned counterclockwise to closed positionbecause in all open positions of the oven control valve l2, the pointedend 45 of the abutment 44 is seated in one of the notches 46 of the bar31, the parts being held in that relationship by the camming effect ofthe rising end of the flat surface portion 5| of the sleeve 50, whichsurface is disposed horizontally only in the closed position of the ovencontrol valve. If the broiler control valve 13 has not already beenclosed at the time the master stop cock is closed preparatory toremoving the key l6, then the counterclockwise rotation of the arm 35associated with the master stop cock 6 will, during closing movement ofsaid stop cock, close the broiler control valve. When the master stopcock is turned off, operation of the oven control knob 3| and broilercontrol knob 33 to on position is prevented by the abutment of portionsof the link or bar 31 (including portion 59 of link member '53) with theassociated valve structures as fully described above. Thus the onlyburners that can'be turned on are the top or fully exposed serviceburners which would not emit any gas until the main stop cock is lateropened. When the latter is open then whichever of the main serviceburners has been turned on will be ignited by the constantly burningpilot flame. As will be apparent it is impossible to create apotentially dangerous condition in the broiler or oven so long as themaster stop cock is in the closed or safety position. Referring next toFigs. 6 and 7, the manner in which the stem 30 is mounted for axialmovement and may be interlocked with the apron 2 to prevent rotation, isillustrated.

The stop cock or valve 12 has the usual rotatable plug 52 with anintegral stem 63 which slidably fits into the hollow stem 3|]. The stem63 has an axial bore 54 accommodating a compression spring 55 which ispartially compressed between the base of the bore 64 and the inner endof the extension 55 of the knob 34. The extension 56 is securelyanchored in the stem 30 against rotation and axial movement relativethereto by the screw 35a. The spring urges the stem axially away fromthe valve body, the outward limit being fixed by a shoulder 61 on thestem 30 which engages a complementary shoulder on the cap 68 of thevalve body. The inner end of the stem 39 terminates short of the plug 62and is provided with a longitudinal slot 59 which accommodates a pin 15rigid with the plug stem 63. In the outermost position of the stem 30,as limited by the shoulder 51, the screw 35a lies in the plane of theapron 2. As best illustrated in Fig. '7, the apron .2 is provided with anotch 11 which is aligned, forwardly and rearwardly of the range, withand accommodates the screw 30a when the valve 52 is in off position. Thebroiler burner control valve 13 is the same as the valve l2 and iscorrectly arranged so that its stem 32 is movable axially.

I claim:

1. In a gas stove having two burners, each having an individual gasvalve control element which has to be shifted axially before it can beturned to valve opening position, a master gas control valve for theburners, means including linkage connected to an operating part of themaster valve for operation of the linkage, said linkage extendingadjacent the individual gas controls and providing abutment meanspreventing said axial shifting of said control elements but only whenthe master valve is closed.

2. In a gas stove having a plurality of burners, each with an individualcontrol valve, one of said valves having a turnable control element withmeans preventing it from being turned into gas supplying position exceptupon axial shifting of said element, a turnable master control valvehaving a link operatively connected thereto and in blocking abutmentrelationship to said control element for preventing axial shiftingthereof when the master control valve is closed, said link being movedout of said blocking relationship when the master control valve is open.

3. Mechanism according to claim 2 wherein the link is arranged to beshifted transversely of its axis by said turnable element of anindividual control valve when the latter is turned to open theassociated valve and the master control valve is open, and locking meansfor the link rendered effective by such transverse shifting of the linkwhereby the master control valve may be prevented from being turned togas blocking position when said individual control valve is open.

- i1. Mechanism according to claim 2-wherein the link :a pin andsl'otconnection with a rotary of the individual control valve so arrangedthat the latter can bemoved freely to on and ofi positions when themaster control valve is sup plying gas but operating, when .said mastercontrol valve is being moved to gas blocking position, to "close theindividual control valve.

:5. In .a gas stove having a burner, a control valveior the burner, saidcontrol valve having a turnable control element, a turnable mastercontrol valve, a link connected to an operative part thereof, :andmovable endwise thereby and arranged to be shifted in the plane ofendwise movement in a direction transversely of its length, meansOperated by rotation of the turnable control element to effect saidtransversing shifting of the link, means operative to lock the linkagainst said transverse shifting by the last mentioned means :of theturnable control element when the link is moved endwise by the mastercontrol valve to a position wherein the master control valve is closed,and said means on the turnable control element being operatively engagedby the link when the link is locked to prevent rotation of the turnablecontrol element.

6. The mechanism according to claim '5 further characterized in thatmeans are provided which are operative when the link is shiftedtransversely by operation of the turnable control element to lock thelink against endwise movementiso as to prevent closing of the mastercontrol valve.

7. In a gas stove having a burner, a control valvefor the burner, saidvalve having a turnable control element, a master control valve, a linkoperatively connected to the master control valve and movable endwisethereby when the master control valve is turned to open and closedposition, and-arranged to be shifted in the plane of endwise movement ina direction transversely of its length by rotation of the turnablecontrol element to an open position when the master Valve is open andlocking means rendered operative by the link when the link is shiftedtransversely by the turnable control element to lock the link againstendwise movement whereby closing of the master control valve isprevented when the burner control valve is open.

8. In a cooking range having a plurality of burners, control valvesindividually controlling the burners, :each valve having a turnablecontrol element, the turnable element iQf zone valrve being axiallyshiftable and having means preventing it from being turned to gassupplying :position except upon axial shifting of the element, :aturnable master control valve, linkage mechanism connected to andmovable :by the master control valve upon turning the master controlvalve to open and closed positions, :said mechanism extendingadj acen-tvboth of the burner control valves and having means operating on theaxially :shiftable element, when the master valve and the axiallyshi-ftable element are in closed ,position to prevent axial shifting .ofthe element, and said mechanism also having means operating, on theother element, when the master valve and other element are in closedposition, to prevent rotation of .said other element.

JOSEPH BECVAR.

REFERENCES CIT-ED The following references "are-o1 record in the file ofthis patent:

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